UCAN raising funds

Utility Consumers' Action Network, the watchdog that is under investigation of more than one governmental agency, will be sending out a fundraising letter soon. At a monthly meeting last evening, one board member believed the current proposed letter is too negative, putting too much stress on past woes. The letter will be edited. Those woes did come up at the meeting, however. Don Kelly, the new executive director, spoke of money that could have been saved on work that went to outside vendors. "What I find distressing is not knowing the resources I have," he said. One member said he was "astounded at how much has been going out the door to experts" in cases UCAN is handling before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Another said a government regulator spoke of "fiscal mismanagement" in UCAN's past. Board member Murtaza Baxamusa said UCAN's reputation is "in the dumps." He got an argument from one board member. Encouragingly, Kelly spoke of rate cases and lawsuits that UCAN plans to get involved in. Also encouragingly, longtime Channel 10 news professional J.W. August was named to the board. The board is interviewing two former law enforcement people for other board positions.

monaghan: Baxamusa has been on for awhile. August was voted in last night (Tues.). Both represent steps in the right direction. The board is interviewing two people who have been prominent in local law enforcement. The concern is that the board will be packed with former students and current or past colleagues of Robert Fellmeth from the USD Law School. There are already questions about USD Law people in how this whole thing has been handled -- particularly, the question of whether there was a coverup that was orchestrated by the people being investigated. All of us who question SDGE's motives want a strong UCAN, with a board that is committed to being a watchdog, not a lapdog that permits wrongdoing, or attempts to explain it away as mismanagement. Best, Don Bauder